TAG: GS-2: GOVERNANCE & SOCIAL ISSUES
THE CONTEXT:
EXPLANATION: Diphtheria outbreak in Deeg district of Rajasthan, teams of the state health department and World Health Organization (WHO) have landed in the district and started vaccination.
About Diphtheria:
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- It is a serious contagious bacterial infection of the nose and throat.
- It is caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make a toxin.
Transmission:
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- It can spread from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets, like from coughing or sneezing.
- People can also get sick from touching infected open sores or ulcers.
- The bacteria can also infect the skin, causing open sores or ulcers. However, diphtheria skin infections rarely result in severe disease.
- Although diphtheria can be treated with medications, in advanced stages, the bacterial infection can damage the heart, kidneys and nervous system.
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Symptoms:
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- Typical symptoms of the infection include a sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands and weakness.
- Within 2–3 from infection, the dead tissue in the respiratory tract forms a thick, grey coating that can cover tissues in the nose, tonsils and throat, making it hard to breathe and swallow.
Impact:
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- The primary infection is in the throat and upper airways. Produces a toxin affecting other organs.
- One type of diphtheria affects the throat and sometimes the tonsils.
- Another type causes ulcers on the skin.
Treatments
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- neutralization of unbound toxin with Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT)
- antibiotics to prevent further bacterial growth.
- monitoring and supportive care to prevent and treat complications, e.g. airway obstruction, myocarditis.
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